Chapter 5, The Hunt Begins

The Pride was gathered below the path of Pride Rock. Mufasa was standing along the very edge of the cliff below, peered out over the pride Lands below. The lion King stood firmly where he once next to his own father. Once a young eager lion like Jay on what would be his first hunt that would prove he was worthy to be king. Now he was but an elder, aging day after day. His once reddish brown mane that displayed his dominance had grown ever more and his body riddled with scars from the years protecting the Pridelands.

He knew it would not be long before his time of ruling would soon be over. The sun was already beginning to set on his time. And would rise as Jay as the new king.

Whatever kill that he would make, he hoped that it would be a good one like his was long ago. For it would prove his worth as king.

The lionesses who all stood behind the king, stared forward at the king. He had been standing there for hours now, staring out over the Pridelands. Even before most of them had shown up. Most of them wondered what he was thinking.

When suddenly, they heard a voice from off to their left.

"Why, this is quite the gathering."

The lionesses turned and saw Taka, Zira and Kovu walking up toward them. The lionesses each stared sternly at the king's brother and mate. As shocked as some of them were to see them attend such an event, given how distant they were from the pride. Most of them held distain for the king's brother and Zira as well.

Mufasa glanced back to his brother.

"So you've came." Mufasa said.

All the time he had held out hope that his brother would learn his lesson and begin contributing to the Pride. At long last he has finally come to see his son and Nephew hunt.

"Oh, come now, Mufasa," Taka said as he came up to his brother.

"Like I would miss my own son and nephews hunt."

Mufasa glanced to kovu, who stood up before his uncle.

"Your majesty." Kovu said in respect.

Mufasa came before his nephew.

"Kovu," The king said.

"This is an important day for you and my son. But it will not be such a heavy burden on it like it will be for him."

Kovu narrowed his head, glancing to his father. Taka glanced back at his older brother, staring sternly at him. He then glanced back at Zira, who stared sternly back sternly. Knowing what his they were both thinking, what he was planning to do. What he was about to do on this hunt. Kovu knew he needed not say anything more. He couldn't let Mufasa know what was truly going on.

Kovu glanced up to Mufasa.

"Yes, your majesty." Kovu said.

Mufasa smiled at his Nephew.

"They're here!" one of the lionesses said.

Mufasa and Kovu glanced back at the lionesses. The other's were gazing up at the top of the Pride Rock's path, where they saw Sarabi, Jay and Nala. Sarabi turned back to Jay and Nala.

"Wait here." she said.

Jay and Nala both nodded to her.

"Yes, mother." Jay said.

Sarabi smiled to her son. She then turned and made her way down the path. The other lionesses each made way for her as she approached her mate. Taka turned to face the queen.

"Dear, sister," Taka said.

"Such a fine day for a hunt. Especially for the prince's first."

Sarabi paid little mind to Taka. She simply passed her brother-in-law by without a gesture of response to him. Not that Taka really cared to be here anyway. His absence at the presentation long ago proved that to her. Both him and Zira.

She came up to her mate, who nuzzled him from under his large chin. Mufasa leaned in to her touch, both knowing this day was such an important one. Not just for them, but for their son as well. The small man-cub that was brought to them by the river. Both of them remembered the day when the lioness found him and brought him to Pride Rock. He was so young and alone, abandoned by his own kind and having to have lost his own mother.

Just as they had lost their own son.

And now that man-cub had grown and become a strong young lion. About to take part in one of the pride's traditions, to prove his strength and dominance. To prove his worth as they next king. To assume the destiny that would soon be passed to him by Mufasa.

The two then glanced back up at the top of Pride Rock, where both Jay and Nala stood side by side.

"I've chosen Nala to take my place as queen next to Jay." she announced to her mate.

Mufasa glanced to Sarabi. He expected that Jay would need one of the lionesses to rule next to their son. But he never thought that Sarabi would chose who it would be that would assume the rule of Queen. Though he did agree to her choice. Like he mate, he had always expected that it would be Nala that would be the next queen.

Sarabi glanced back up at Jay and Nala, nodding her head to them.

Nala turned to Jay.

"Come on." she said to him.

Jay nodded his head as he and Nala made their way down the path. They passed by the other lioness, who made way for them. Some of them commenting the two on how much they had grown or showed encouragement on their hunt. Jay glanced back at the lionesses, smiling back at them before turning to face his adopted parents and Uncle.

Taka turned to face his nephew.

"My dear Nephew," Taka proclaimed.

"My, have you both have grown."

Jay narrowed his head. He glanced to the side, rubbing the back of his head.

"Uh... thanks, Uncle." Jay said, unsure of what to said.

He had never gotten used to hearing Taka complement him. Let alone have him talk to him.

"Why of course, Jay," Taka said with a smirk.

"Today is such an important day for both you and my son. When a young male comes of age and proves their worth with the kill of their first hunt."

Mufasa came up to the three young members of the pride. Jay turned to face his adopted father, who stood upright like the noble king he had been groom to be and the one he would soon aspire to be as well.

"You three are about to embark on a great journey," The alpha claimed to the three.

"Today, you will be joining the Queen's hunting party on todays hunt and make you first kill."

Jay and Nala glanced to one another, each excited for the chance to prove themselves on their first hunt. He then turned to Kovu, who glanced to them. Though unlike his two friends, excitement wasn't quite what he was feeling at the moment. He smiled back at them, as to not give them any impression that anything was wrong. Nor what what kill he was to make.

"As tradition with our pride, for some of you the hunt will determine your place in the pride," Mufasa reminded the three, glancing forward to his adopted son.

"As such for The kill of which you will make will be an example of your strength. But do not assume that it does not mean the same for the rest of you."

Nala and Kovu glanced up at the King.

"The hunt will be a test for each of you," Mufasa insisted to the three.

"The kill you all make whether it be together or apart, this will determine your willingness for each other. And for the pride as well."

Jay nodded his head to his father.

"Don't worry," Jay insisted to his father.

"We got this."

Mufasa nodded at the determination his son had displayed. Jay's willingness to take on the task at hand and prove himself to the pride was truly admirable. He had the upmost faith in his adopted son that he would prove himself worthy of being the next king. Whether or not he was human or lion no longer mattered. It was the spirit which resided within Jay was all that truly mattered.

Sarabi then stood up and approached the three young members of the pride.

"Come, all you," the queen proclaimed to them and the other lionesses.

"It is time to hunt."

Sarabi then turned and made her way toward the path leading down to the fields below. Several of the other lionesses stood up and followed after the queen. Jay, Kovu and Nala turned and was about to go after them. When suddenly he heard his father call to him.

"Jay." Mufasa said.

Both Jay and Kovu paused and glanced back at his father.

"Good luck, son." Mufasa said, nodding his head to his adopted son.

Jay smiled and nodded back to his lion father.

"Thanks, father." He said.

As Jay turned and followed after his mother and the others, Kovu looked back at Taka and Zira. The two gazed back at him, grinning. Taka nodded his head to his son, knowing well he understood what it was he had to do. Kovu turned forward at Jay and Nala as they made their way down the path. He narrowed his eyes in contempt, hesitant to go through with this.

Kovu shook his head, ignoring what hesitance he may have felt. He needed to do this, regardless of his two friends. Even as it torn him up inside.

He just hoped that Nala could forgive him for what he was about to do.

Kovu glanced up and followed after Jay and the others.

Their first hunt was about to begin.